According to the data released by Belarus' National Statistical Committee, in the first eleven months of 2009 the country registered a 7.5 percent decrease year on year in its crude steel production to 2.245 million metric tons, and a 2.7 percent drop in its finished steel product output to 2.128 million metric tons.
Meanwhile, during the period in question, Belarus' output of such products as steel pipe, wire rod and steel cord registered decreases of 26.9, 46.5 and 28.3 percent year on year respectively. The respective figures in metric tons were 100,400, 43,900 and 64,100.
As of December 1, 2009, Belarus' steelmakers had accumulated 5,600 mt of steel pipes in their warehouses, which is 84.4 percent of their average monthly pipe production volume. Compared to December 1, 2008, the producers' steel pipe reserves increased by 0.7 percent. The total value of steel products accumulated in the warehouses of local steelmakers as of December 1 this year amounted to Belarus Rubles 82 billion (approx. $28.6 million).